What Is a DAC? Digital-to-Analog Conversion, Explained
A DAC, short for digital-to-analog converter, turns digital audio, a stream of numbers, into the analog voltage that headphones and speakers play. Every playing device contains one: phones, TVs, car stereos, and every Bluetooth receiver all convert numbers to voltage somewhere inside. The numbers that separate good converters from mediocre ones are signal-to-noise ratio near 120 dB, THD+N around -120 dB, and input headroom such as 32-bit/384 kHz. A dedicated DAC earns its place when the built-in one hisses or flattens detail.
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